I was in an impossible position, but I knew Axel was the lesser of the two evils.
“Is this where I plead with you to marry me?” The words felt like cotton in my mouth.
“You don’t have to plead.”
I swallowed and stared at him. “What does that mean?”
He shrugged. “I’m offering to marry you.”
“You’re going to marry me to advance your career?”
“Yes.”
As far as proposals went, it was the least romantic thing I’d ever imagined, outlining how vast the power difference was between us. I needed him for survival. He was interested in a work promotion.
My uncle, placating me while throwing me to the wolves.
Sergei, fighting to take control of me.
Axel, viewing me as a career stepping stone.
And, unfortunately, my best chance of survival was to pick him.
“I’m never having sex with you,” I told him, despite knowing I had absolutely no bargaining chips left in this game.
I was entirely at the mercy of the man in front of me.
He looked bored. “Goes without saying.”
I thought about running and trying to make it to a Canadian embassy on my own, but I knew if I failed again, my uncle wouldn’t be so understanding. He’d punish me.
And, after seeing Axel in action, I wasn’t sure I would be able to elude him. What was my objective, after all? My objective was to avoid marrying Sergei and to get back to Canada. Marrying Axel would achieve both.
I took a deep breath and accepted my fate. Sometimes you had to do what it took to survive. In exchange for the benefit of my Canadian passport and my freedom, Axel would offer me protection and a chance to live in Canada. We both knew I could do a lot worse.
Fatigue rolled through me, and it was so crushing it almost overwhelmed me. There was no real escape; there was only survival. I felt myself go still inside.
Axel watched me closely, but he didn’t speak.
I inhaled a deep, slow breath. “Fine.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’ll marry you.” My voice was flat.
He made a short noise of amusement or annoyance, I couldn’t tell, but then he spoke in a calm voice. “I’ll walk you back to the family quarters.”
I nodded, and in silence we started the short walk back to the family staircase.
He spoke again, quietly. “Let me tell Grisha. He’ll want us to announce the engagement publicly as soon as possible.”
I didn’t look up at him. “Okay.”
When we got to the bottom of the steps, he stopped me. “Can I offer some advice?”
I didn’t want to listen to his advice, but he was also the only person standing between Sergei and me. “Of course.”
“Try to pretend to be happy about this. For your uncle’s benefit.”
